Watch bracelet buckle



March ze, 1940. P. J. NOACK 2,194,767

WATCH BRACELET BUCKLE Filed July 1:5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor H2M J /Vae .n Bywaaa;

March 26, 1940. P. J. NoAcK 2,194,767

WATCH BRACELET BUCKLE Filed July 13, 1939 2 SheetsSheet 2 Il nl' o qb um fl Inventor 3 Pew Z J /V'oaJc/ orneys Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,194,767 WATCH BRACELET BUCKLE v Paul J. Noack, San Bernardino, Calif.

Application July 13, 1939, Serial No. 284,349

' 1 Claim. (ci. :a4- 71) This invention relates to new and useful im-` provements in watch bracelet buckles of the folding type and has for one of its important `objects to provide, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a construction and arrangement which is such that all of the moving parts thereof will be protected against direct contact with the wrist when the buckle is in closed position. i.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a buckle of the aforementioned character comprising unique locking means for releasably securing the device in closed position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a watch bracelet buckle of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eicient and reliable in use, compact, lightin weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a watch bracelet buckle constructed in accordancewith the present invention, showing the device closed.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device, showing it open with the parts flattened out.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the buckle in open position.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the closed buckle, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail view in front elevation of the housing.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the housing.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through the housing, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is another cross-sectional view through the housing, taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Figure '7.`

Figure 10 is a detail view in front elevation of the pivoted locking link.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the pivoted locking link.

Figure 12 is a detail View in front elevation of the ratchet link.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the ratchet link.

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view through the ratchet link, taken substantially on the line I4--I4 `of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the slidable locking link.

Figure 16 is a view in rear elevation of the slidable locking link.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a housing of any suitable material which is designated `-generally by the reference numeral i. The housing I is longitudinally curved to conform to the wrist and, as best seen in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, such housing is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, comprising front and rear walls 2 and 3, respectively. Pins 4 and 5 are mounted transversely in the housing I on the rear wall 3 thereof. The front wall 2 of the housing I, and its top, terminates in an inwardly and down- Wardly turned flange 6 the purpose of which will be presently set forth. At one end, the upper portion of the front wall 2 of the housing is provided with a hook 'l which is engaged overY the corresponding portion of the rear Wall 3.

'I'he reference numeral 8 designates a ratchet link of substantially U-shaped cross-section (see Figs. 12, 13 and 14) having one end journaled on the pin 6 for swinging movement into and out of the substantially U-shaped housing I in the manner suggested in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. Of course, the link 8 is longitudinally curved to Conform to the wrist and the housing I. Ratchet teeth 9 are provided on the bight portion of the substantially U-shaped link 8. The free or forward end portion of the link 8 is recessed, as at IU, to accommodate the` pin 4 when the buckle is closed. On one edge of the link 8 is a forwardly projecting lip II which facilitates swinging said link upwardly out of the housing I when the buckle is to be opened. Adjacent the lifting lip II the front of the link 8 has formed longitudinally therein a rib I2 which is adapted to snap under the ange 6 when the buckle is in closed position. This is shown to advantage in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The reference numeral I3 designates a pivoted locking link having one end portion pivotally secured in the free or forward end portion of the substantially U-shaped ratchet link 8. 'I'he free end portion of the link I3 has formed therein a vertical slot I4 for connection with one end of the watch bracelet (not shown). Adjacent the slot 14, the link I3 has formed in its lower edge a recess or notch I which receives the pin 9 when the bracelet is in closed position. On one side of the recess I5 is an integral, resilient latch IB past which the pin 5 is forced when opening or closing the buckle. Depending from the free end portion of the link I3 Vis a lip I'I. The purpose of the lip I1 will also be presently set forth.

Extending Slidably into the other end portion of the substantially U-shaped housing 1 is a link 18 which may also be of any suitable metal. The slidable link I8 has formed longitudinally therein a slot I9 which accommodates the pin 4 in the housing I. A longitudinally elongated notch or recess 20 in the inner end portion of the link I8 accommodates the pin 5 when the buckle is closed. Formed vertically in the outer end portion of the slidable link I8 in a slot 2i for connection with the other end of the watch bracelet. It may be Well to here state that the link I8 is mounted immediately adjacent the front wall 2 of the housing I. Formed on the lower edge of the link I8 is a rearwardly projecting flange 22 which is adapted to travel on the bottom or bright portion 23 of the housing I. Struck upwardly from the ange 22 is a resilient pawl 2li which is operatively engageable with the ratchet teeth 9 when the buckle is in closed position. The link I8, of course, is also longitudinally curved to conform to the wrist and the housing I.

It is thought that the manner in which the device functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To close the buckle, the links I3 and 8 are swung laterally ina counter-clockwise movement, the link I3 telescoping into the link 8 and both telescoping into the housing I on the pin 5, the resilient latch I6 snapping over said pin 5 as it enters the recess I5, and rib I2 also snapping under the ange 6. The link I8 is then slid into the housing I where it is locked by the engagement of the pawl 24 with the ratchet teeth 9. To open the buckle, the link 8 is swung laterally out in a clockwise movement out ofthe housing I through the medium of the lifting lip II which, through slight downward pressure, disengages the rib I2 and thus carries the link I3, which fulcrums on the lip I'I, the resilient latch I6 past the pin 5. Thus, the ratchet teeth 9 are disengaged from the paWl 24 thereby freeing the slidable link I8 and permitting it to be moved outwardly in the housing I.

It is believed that the many advantages of a Watch bracelet buckle constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A bracelet buckle of the character described comprising a housing of substantially U-shaped cross-section, a pin mounted in one end portion of said housing, a link of substantially U-shaped cross-section journaled on said pin and adapted to be swung into the housing, ratchet teeth on the bight portion of said link, a link having one end portion pivotally secured in the free end portion of the first-named link and adapted for connection with one end of a bracelet, the secondnamed link being foldable into the rst-named link, means on the second-named link engageable with the pin for releasably securing the links in folded position, a link extending slida'bly into the other end of the housing and adapted for connection with the other end of the bracelet, a longitudinal flange on the third-named link, and a resilient pawl on said ange engageable with the ratchet teeth for releasably securing the third-named link in closed position in the housing.

PAUL J. NOACK. 

